Washing machine



Jan. 30, 1934. H. T. RUTHERFORD 1,945,444

WASHING MACHINE Filed April l, 1933 '2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Jan. 30, 1934.

H. T. RUTHERFORD WASHING MACHINE Filed April l, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Syvum v Hssie fl'fluherford Patented Jan. 30, 1934 PLATE NT :orties WASHING MACHINE Hessie T. Rutherford, Kansas City, Mo.

` lApplication April 1, 1933." -Serial No. 663,998

'.112 Claims. (Cl. 68--18) This invention relates to a washing machine, and has for its primary object to so construct and arrange the elements therefor, in a manner as hereinafter set forth to provide for expeditiously and thoroughly washing articles formed from textile material, but it is tobe understood that a Vwashing machine in accordance With this invention is Vdesigned for washing any type of article l for which it is found applicable.

A furtherobject of the invention is toy provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a machine of the class referred to including a revoluble skeleton cylinder having means Yfor securing thereto, Y

the articles to be washed in fixed suspended par- Iwhereby each suspended article willbe individually Washed.

A further object of the ,invention is to provide,

in -armanner as hereinafter set forth, awashing n 2O machine including a tank-for containing Va bodyof Water and a Lclockwise and counter-clockwisev revolubleskeleton cylinder suspended in the tank in spaced .relation withrespect to the bottom of the latter-and with the cylinder having means for removably suspending from the outside thereof, each individual piece of laundry to be Washed f to'provide, during the revolving of the cylinder, for the laundry to be forced with great resistance through the water resulting in leach piece of laundry attached to ythe cylinder to be thoroughly washed individually.

Further objects of the invention are toprovide, in a mannery as hereinafter setforth, a machine v ofthe class referred to which is simple in its ,con-` 35 struction and-arrangement, strong, durable, comv .pact thoroughly eicent in its,A use, expeditious in its action, readily assembled, permitting ofthe articles to be Washed to be conveniently attached thereto, and .comparatively inexpensive to manufacture.

To the above ends essentially and to others w Whichmay hereinafter appear, the invention consists of such parts and such combination of partsl which fallwithin the scope of the invention as yclaimed.

The vmachine includes an operating element comprising a clockwise andy counter-clockwise driven shaft carrying theskeleton cylinder and .which may berevolved ,from any suitable means, e i. e., a motor or hand power, and such means is illustrated by way of example as ,a manually .shiftedcrank handle attached to one end of the cylinder vvcarrying. shaft.

In the drawings lwherein like referencecharacters,,denotecerrespcnding parts throughout the severalviewst- .Figurell is a perspective view of the washing inachinewhen closed.

. Figure 2r is a vertical sectional view of the washing. machinewhen opened.

allel relation during the revolving of the cylinder or closure 10.

vof

Figure 3 is anfelevationl of the ,tank;looking towards the rear sidethereof.

v Figure 4 is a cross sectional view ofthe lskeleton cylinder which provides a carrier for the articles to be washed.

Figure 5 is a persplectiveyview ofthe skeleton cylinder. f Figure 6 is a-perspective view of .the ;,fo rmof combined grip and agitator.

.f The machine includes an`A open .top and closed bottom -tank 1 -for containing af body of `;.Water. The tank may be of any suitableicontour in plan,

preferably square and is soshown. `Iheqfront and rear walls of tank l are designated 2., 3

respectively, Athe side Walls at 4, 5 andthebottom at 6. The tank l is set upv withan upperportion 7 and a lower portion 8. The portion ,7. is of greater height and-area than-portion 8and-the latter ares from bottom 6 toitsrpoint of mergence with portion 7. The setting up of vportion 8 in the manner .referred tol provides thetank with a lower part of substantially inverted frustoconoidal contour. The portion ,-7 is also flared, but 'the flare thereof is less than the flarey ofportion 8. The bottom 6 is of -an area .materially less than that of the open top of thetank.

The top of each of the walls of the` tank is provided with an outwardly directed lip 91of` angleshape cross section to form agcornbined internal seat and abutment for the edges of `ahingedl lid The lips 9 at. the; ends thereof merge into eachother.

v Formed integral with the'inner face ofthe lip `9 of wall 4 is a pair of upstanding inwardly inclinedspaced parallel apertured hingemembers 1l between which is arranged` an-apertured hinge member 12, extended from the -outer face of lid 10 adjacent one side edge thereof. i-The member f l2 is pivoted to members 11, as at 13 andby this i arrangement the lid 10 is hinged Withoneside of tank 1'.` The lid 10 adjacent its other side edge has extended outwardly therefromakknob .14 to facilitate vtheY swinging of the lid to and-from closure position with respect tothe .Open/top the tanky vWhen the lid 10 is closed it swings under membersy 11 and itsY edges Abear against the combined seat and abutment-.provided by each lip 9 below the top edge ofthe latter. Y The outer face of lid 10 is inset to pro-r vide a pocket 15 for a purpose to beireferred to.

The walls 4, 5 of tankl 1 in proximity to bottom 6 hasdepending therefroma pair of spaced apertured lugs 16; The tank 1 is supported upon two pair of upwardly extendingspaced legs 17, @The `legs of each pair extend inwardly at an., inclination from their lowerends. Each leg at its upper end overlaps a lug 16 and is apertured. yThe `apertures of thelegsalign with Vthe apertures of the lugs. The legs and .lugs` are securedtogether RFD..

by holdfast means 18 extending through the aligning apertures.

Pivotally connected as at 19 to the outer face of Wall 4 is the lower end of asupporting r'od 20,- and the latter is adapted tokhave," its upper end removably extended into the pocket for supporting the lid 10 when swung to open position with respectto the top of tank 1', Figure 2:`

The wang @frank in; proximity" to bottom' e has attachedtheretda drain cock 2 1.. The portion 7 in proximity to and below its horizontal median is provided with Xa pair of opposed openings, 22, 23a'nd the said openings are formed in walls 4, 5. Threadedly engaging with the wall of opening 22 is abearing sleeve 24 which extendsfrom wall 4 into the tank 1. The sleeve 24 is of uniforrnudiameter throughout.- Extending through Wall 5 into the' tankl 1 is a tubular member formed f tw parts of diierent diameter. The part of smallest diameter', indicated at 25 threadedly engages with the walll of opening 23, extends inwardly from wall 5 and constitutes a bearing. The other part of the tubular member, which is indicated at 26, provides a gland for a packing 27. Threadedly engaging with the inner face of part 26 and bearing against the packing 27 is a flanged collar 28. v

Journaled in the sleeve 24 and part 25 of the tubular member is a clockwise and counterclockwise movable shaft 29. The end 3i) of the latterv terminates adjacent the outer end of sleeve 24. A'The end 31 of shaft 29 is positioned adjacent the collar 28. The shaft 29 extends outwardly from collar 28 and has xedly secured thereto a crank handle 32 for the purpose of revolving the shaft in the direction desired. When shaft 29 is to be operated from a motor, the end 30 is attached therewith. The outer end of sleeve 24 is closed by a plug 33 threadedly engaging with the inner face of the sleeve. When shaft 29 is to be driven from a motor, the plug 33 is removed.

Fixedly secured to shaft 31 so as to bodily move therewith is a skeleton cylinder 34 which provides a carrier for the articles to be washed. The cylinder 34 is arranged on shaft 29 between sleeve 24 and part 25 of the tubular member whereby it is maintained in spaced relation with respect tothe walls 4, 5 of tank l. The diameter` of cylinder 34 is such whereby it will not depend into the lower portion 8 of the tank, and further will be positioned at a point spaced materially from the lips 9.

The cylinder includes a pair of circular axially apertured spaced parallel oppositely disposed heads 35, 36 of like form, each of which includes ahub 37, a web'38 and a rim 39 of greater thickness than the web. The hub 37 is disposed outwardly and inwardly with respect to the web. The hub 37 is removably connected to the shaft 29 by the holdfast means 40. lIhe rim 39 is formed with a circular row of spaced transverse openings 41 and a series of spaced mortises 4l in its outer edge. rihe openings 41 in one rim align with the openings 4l in the other rim and a similar arrangement is had with respect to the mortises in the rims. y

The heads 35, 36 are connected together by a pair or" sets oi holders. Each holder consists of a gripper member 42 and a gripper-agitating element 43. The elements 43 of one set are oppositely disposed with respect to the elements 43 of the other set. Each member 42 coacts with an Velement 43 to provide a frictional gripping means for clamping an article to be washed to a holder.

The members 42 and elements 43 are secured in a manner to be referred to for the purpose of preventing the shifting thereof relative to the heads 35, 36?.

Each member 42 is in the form of a cylindrical rod. The rod extends through a pair of aligning openings 41 and is provided with nuts 44 abutting the outer sides of the heads to prevent the shifting' of the rod relative to the heads.

Each element 43 is of substantially L-shape inl crss' section for the major portion of its length to provide an outer arm 45 and an inwardly attendingv arm 46 of greater width and or less' length than the arm 45. The latter extends an equal distance from the ends ci arm 46. The arm 45 is formed centrally with an oiTset stretch portion 47 to provide one of its sides with a concave edge portion 48 and the other of its sides with a convex edge portion 49. The arm 46' centrally of its outer face is provided with a concave groove 50 which registers with the concave edge portion 49. The arm 45 at its concave edge portion, at its edge portions adjacent said concave edge portion and the arm 46 at the outer portion of its outer face is lengthwise serrated as at 51. The parts of the arm 45 which extend from the ends of the arm 46 are apertured as at 52 and seat in a pair of aligning mortises 42. Holdfast devices 53 extend through the openings 52 in the elements 43 and engage in the heads 35, 36 for anchoring said elements and heads together to prevent the former shifting relatively to the latter. The outer faces oi the arms 45 of elements 43 are iiush with the outer edges of the heads 35, 36.

Each gripper member 42 is arranged in close proximity to out spaced from the outer face of the arm 46 of an element 43 and extends across the groove 50. The stretches of one side of the member 42 which are spaced adjacent the sides of the transverse median of member 42 coact with spaced stretches of the arm 46 'which are disposed parallel to the said stretches of member 42 to provide the holder with permanent spaces located adjacent the sides of the transverse median and extending lengthwise of the holder for receiving end portions of the articles to be washed. The inner ends of the spaces are open. Theconcave edge portions 48, concave grooves 50 and the central stretches of the members 42 coact to provide each holder at its transverse center thereof with an enlarged opening to facilitate the entrance of the articles to be washed and suspended troni the carrier to the spaces referred to from the inner open ends of the latter. The opposed faces ofv a member 42 and an element 43 coact to provide a frictional gripping means or detachably clampingin said spaces the end portions of the articles to be washed whereby such articles are removably secured to and suspended against the outer periphery of the carrier. The arms 45 of elements 43 constitute stops to arrest the articles from swinging into the carrier when the articles are suspendingly supported on the outside of the carrier by the gripping means referred to.

The portion 8 of the tank 1 provides a passage 53 for the suspended articles when they are carried around on the revolving of the cylinder and depend from the lower portion of the cylinder.

The wall 3 has apertured oiiset portions 54 for receiving holdfast devices, not shown, for anchoring to the tank a wringer, not shown. i

Each element 43 and the gripper member 42 which iS associated therewith provides what may be .termed a holder, and under such conditions the carrier is formed with a circumferentially disposed set of spaced holders forming means whereby the articles to be washed are disposed in rows with respect to the carrier.

When using the machine, the tank is filled with water to an extent tc have the water level in proximity to the lips 9. Then the articles to be washed. are attached toy the holder, and in this connection a small iold at an edge of each garment to be washed is passed through the eye at the center of a holder. The article is then shifted to the right or to the left of the holder until the latter is filled. The member 42 and element 43 coacts to grip the garments to the holder and the latter functions to suspend the articles upon the outside of the carrier. When attaching the article to a holder, after one holder is lled, the carrier is shifted to position another holder in convenientposition to attach the articles thereto. When the articles are suspendingly supported from the carrier, the latter is operated to revolve completely clockwise and then to revolve completely counter-clockwise thus forcing the articles on the outside of the carrier with great resistance through the water in the tank especially through passage 53. ln this manner, each article is washed individually.

Each of the elements 43 not only coact with an element 42 to provide a holder and gripping means for an article to be washed, but the arm 4.76 ci such element provides an agitator for the water during the revolving of the carrier.

What claim is:--

l. A washing machine including a revoluble skeleton cylinder constituting a carrier having circumferentially extending parallel spaced holders, each consisting of a gripper member and a gripper-agitating element, said member and element disposed lengthwise and xedly secured at their ends to the ends of the cylinder, said element having an inwardly extending part disposed radially of the carrier to provide an agi.- tator, said member being arranged in parallel spaced relation to said part but adjacent thereto and coacting with the latter to form a pair of permanent spaces adjacent each side of the transverse median of the holder for the reception of a portion of each of a plurality of articles to be washed, opposed walls of said spaces coacting to provide frictional gripping means for clampin the said portions to the holder to suspend the articles at the outside of the'carrier.

2. A washing machine including a revoluble skeleton cylinder constituting a carrier having circumierentially extending parallel spaced holders, each consisting of a gripper member and a gripper-agitating element, said member and element disposed lengthwise and fixedly secured at their ends to the ends of the cylinder, said element having an inwardly extendin panJ disposed radially of the carrier to pr I`ide an agitator, said member being arranged in parallel spaced relation to said part but adjacent thereto and coacting with the latter to form a pair of permanent spaces arranged adjacent each side of the holder for the reception of a portion of each of a plurality of articles to be washed, the walls of said spaces coacting to provide frictional gripping means for clamping the said portions to the holder to suspend the articles at the outside of the carrier, each or" said holders provided with means at the transverse medan thereof to form an opening or greater diameter than the width of said spaces to facilitate the entrance of saidportions into the spaces :from

the inner ends of the latter.

3. A washing machine including a revoluble skeleton cylinder constituting a carrier having circulnferentially extending parallel spaced holders, each consisting of a gripper member and a gripper-agitating element, said member and element disposed lengthwise of the cylinder, said element having an inwardly extending part disposed radially of the carrier to provide an,` y

agitator, said member being arranged in parallel spaced relation to said part but adjacent thereto and coacting with the latter to form a gripping means for suspending the articles to be washed cn the outside of the carrier, and the-j said inwardly extending part being formed with a lengthwise serrated portion opposing the gripping member.

fl. A washing machine including a revoluble skeleton cylinder constituting a carrier having circumferentially extending parallel spaced holders, each consisting of a gripper member and a gripper-agitating element, said member and element disposed lengthwise and ixedly secured at their ends to the ends 01"' the cylinder, said element having an inwardly extending part disposed radially of the carrier to provide an agitator, said member being arranged in parallel spaced relation to said part but adjacent thereto and coacting with the latter to form a pair of permanent spaces arranged adjacent Veach side of the holder for the reception of a portion of each of a plurality of articles to be washed, the walls of said spaces coacting to provide frictional gripping means for clamping the said portions to the holder to suspend the articles at the outside of the carrier, each of said holders provided with means at the transverse median thereof to form an opening of greater diameter than the width of said spaces to facilitate the entrance of said portions into the spaces from the inner ends of the latter, and the said-inwardly extending part being formed with a lengthwise serrated portion opposing the gripper member.

5. A washing machine including a revoluble skeleton cylinder constituting a carrier having circumferentially extending parallel spaced holders, each consisting of a gripper vmember and a gripper-agitating element, said member and element disposed lengthwise and nxedly secured 1 opposed walls of said spaces coacting to provide frictional gripping means-for clamping the said portions to the holder to suspend the articles at the outside of the carrier, the said gripper member being arranged inwardly with respect to the outer periphery of the carrier, and the said element having a face portion thereof providing a part or" the outer periphery of the carrier.

6. A washing machine including a revoluble skeleton cylinder constituting a carrier having circumferentially extending parallel spaced holders, each consisting of a gripper member and a gripper-agitating element, said member and element disposed lengthwise and ixedly secured at their ends to the ends of the cylinder, said element having an inwardly extending part disposed CTL radially of the carrier to provide an agitator, said member being arranged in parallel spaced relation to said part but adjacent thereto and coacting with the latter to form a pair oi permanent spaces arranged adjacent each side oi the holder for the reception or a portion of each of a plurality of articles to be washed, the walls of said spaces coacting to provide frictional gripping means for clamping the said portions to the holder to suspend the articles at the outside of the carrier, each of said holders provided with means at the transverse median thereorn to iorm an opening of greater diameter than the width oi said spaces to facilitate the entrance ci said portions into the spaces .from the inner ends of the latter, the said gripper member being arranged inwardly with respect to the outer periphery o the carrier, and the said element having a face portion thereof providing a part of the outer periphery of the carrier.

7. A washing machine including a revoluble skeleton cylinder constituting a carrier having circumferentially extending parallel spaced hold= ers, each consisting oi a gripper member and a gripper-agitating element, said member and element disposed lengthwise o the cylinder, said element having an inwardly extending part disposed radially of the carrier to provide an agitator, said member being arra.' ged in parallel spaced relation to said part but adjacent thereto andV co-acting with the latter to form a gripping means for suspending the articles to be washed on the outside of the carrier, the said inwardly extending part being formed with a lengthwise serrated portion, the said gripper member being arranged inwardly with respect to the outer periphery oi the carrier, and the said element having a face portion thereof providing a part ci the outer periphery oi the carrier.

8. A washing machine including a revoluble skeleton cylinder constituting a carrier having circumferentially extending parallel spaced holders, each consisting or" a gripper member and a gripper-agitating element, said member and element disposed lengthwise and iixedly secured at their ends to the ends or" the cylinder, said ele ment having an inwardly extending part disposed radially of the carrier to provide an agitator, said member being arranged in parallel spaced rela# tion to said part but adjacent thereto and coacting with the latter to form a pair of permanent spaces adjacent each side of the transverse median of the holder for the reception of a portion of each of a plurality of articles to be washed, opposed walls of said spaces coacting to provide frictional gripping rneans for clamping the said portions to the holder to suspend the articles at the outside of the carrier, an open tcp and closed bottom tank for receiving a body of water and formed of an upper portion and a lower portion, the latter being of less area than te former and providing a passage for the suspended parts oi said articles, said carrier being arranged in said upper portion, spaced from the top of the latter and spaced above said lower portion, operable means extending across the tanlr and connected to the carrier for revolving the latter, and a hinged closure for the open top of the tank.

9. A washing machine including a revoluble cylinder formed of a skeleton body closed at each end and constituting a carrier having circumferentially extending parallel spaced lengthwise disposed holders, each consisting of a gripper member of circular cross section and a griperagitating element of substantially L-shaped cross section, said member and element being arranged inparallel spaced relation for receiving and irictionally clamping therebetween articles to be washed, said member having its ends iixedly secured to, extending into and arranged in close proximity to the edges of the ends 'of the cylinder, said element having its ends flXedly secured to and seated in the end edges of the cylinder ends, extending inwardly into the cylinder with respect to member and having one face thereof permanently providing an outer peripheral portion of said body.

l0. A washing machine including a revoluble cylinder formed of a skeleton body closed at each end and constituting a carrier having circumferentially extending parallel spaced lengthwise disposed holders, each consisting of a gripper member of circular cross section and a gripper-agitating element oi substantially L-shaped cross section, member and element being arranged in parallel spaced relation for receiving and frictionally clamping therebetween articles to be washed, said member having its ends lxedly secured to, extending into and arranged in close proximity to the edges of the ends of the cylinder, element having its ends iledly secured to and seated in the end edges of the cylinder ends, extending inwardly into the cylinder with respect to said member and having one face thereof permanently providing an outer peripheral portion ci said body, the cross sectional area of said members being materially less than the cross sectional area of each of said elements.

1l. A washing machine including a revoluble cylinder formed ci a skeleton body closed at each end and constituting a carrier having circumierentially extending parallel spaced lengthwise disposed holders, each consisting of a gripper member of circular cross section and a gripperagitating element oi substantially L-shaped cross section, said member and element being arranged in parallel spaced relation for receiving and frictionally clamping therebetween articles toI be washed, said member having its ends iixedly secured to, extending into and arranged in close proximity to the edges of the ends oi the cylinder, said element having its ends xedly secured to and seated in the end edges of the cylinder ends, exten-ding inwardly into the cylinder with krespect to said member and having one face thereof permanently providing an outer peripheral portion of said body, and said element having that face opposing said member being formed centrally thereof with a transversely extending concave groove.

12. A washing machine comprising an open top tanl; formed of an upper and a lower portion, the latter providing a passage for articles being washed, a revolnble closed end and open body carrier formed with parallel spaced lengthwise extending permanently xed combined holders and agitators for suspending the articles to be washed upon the outer face of the body of the carrier and for holding said articles in depending position from the bottom of the carrier when the articles are traveling through said passage, said carrier being positioned in said upper portion, the top oi the carrier being located below the top and the bottom of the carrier .being located above the lower end of said upper portion, and means extending through said upper portion and carrier for revolving the latter.

HESSIE T. RUTHERFORD. 

